nature

On clear nights when the moon is new, astrophotography enthusiasts and keen Instagrammers flock to HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse to capture otherworldly images of an expansive sky flooded with stars. In winter months, the stargazers are treated to views of Orion in all his glory in the west, the Gemini twins Castor and Pollux right above him, the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major pointing to Polaris the North Star, the Little Dipper in Ursa Minor, plus a host of unnamed stars twinkling many light years away.

When you visit HI Point Reyes, the secluded and serene hostel nestled within the rolling expanse of the Point Reyes National Seashore, you’ll find all your senses treated to inspiring sights, scents and tastes that you’ll want to bottle up and keep forever. Since there’s not an app for that yet, the next best thing is capturing those quintessential Northern California moments to keep for yourself and share with friends and fellow travelers on Instagram.

Summer may be officially over, but that doesn’t mean you should abandon your plans for a visit to the coast just yet. “The fall is my favorite time of the year as it is sometimes an Indian Summer with hot weather and big waves,” says HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse hostel’s General Manager, Jeff Parry.

There’s something about nature and the ocean that has the ability to shrink life’s problems and bring out your inner curious child, and places like HI Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel exist so that travelers from near and far can reboot and reconnect.

Whether you’re used to warmer climates or quite content in the cold, there’s no denying that spring is a pretty wonderful time of the year. All the life that seems to have been hiding within the earth emerges, and the world seems to become a more colorful, brighter, livelier place. If you happen to be in Northern California during the spring and summer months, you’ll find that HI USA has some pretty sweet spots to do some Julie Andrews “Hills Are Alive” spinning around amongst beautiful blooms (or just regular viewing and photo snapping if you’re not the spinning type).

From National Park land to downtown streetscapes, hillside perches to coastal lighthouses, HI USA hostels are located in some of the most beautiful settings Northern California has to offer. So perhaps it’s not surprising that so many staff members across our hostel network are talented (and prolific) artists: they’ve got a lot of inspiration to work with!